Ground Hunnting

[smiley1]

#3883

I almost always hunt from a treestand and have had good success doing so. Two weeks ago while doing some midday scouting I found a ridge with plenty of fresh deer sign. Not wanting to alert deer to my presence I decided not to hang a stand and instead hunt from the ground when the wind direction was good for the spot I had selected. The following Friday we had a west wind… perfect for my new spot. I wore a cheap imitation gillie suit and to my surprise had three deer within 15 yards at first light. I managed to double lung the bigger doe at 10 yards and watch her go down within 30 yards.

A week later, we had a NNW wind also good for my new found spot. About an hour and a half after light I spotted a buck working scrapes along the ridge. I managed to grunt him into range and shoot him at 9 yards. He made it about 80 yards before expiring. I never would have believed that I could take two deer on the ground at less than 10 yards without some sort of blind and get away with it. Needless to say I am very excited about ground hunting, the mobility it affords and not having to rely on treestands all the time.

Steve

I was shooting a 50# Dryad Orion, 685 grain carbon arrows, Tuffhead 300s, 2″ aluminum footings for a 34.8% FOC.

Steve

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#24727

That’s awesome, Steve. Well done! I would much rather sit in a good spot on the ground, with the ability to relocate as needed, than be stuck in a single place up in a tree any day. Impressive amount of FOC on that arrow, too!

[jpc]

#24747

After more than two decade hunting from TS I switched for ground hunting pleasure is without comparison, satisfaction beyond compare

[David Coulter]

#24856

Hey Smiley! Good reason to be smiling. That’s terrific. Sounds like you’re hooked now. I’ll be in trees for a bit, but maybe later in the season I’ll go to the ground. Thanks for the inspiration, dwc

[Brennan Herr]

#24907

Congrats and great job Smiley! Great looking deer!

[grumpy]

#24930

Congrats. I’m jealous. 🙁

[Ptaylor]

#25092

Hey Smiley,

That’s awesome!

Tell us how it happened, specifically how you were able to draw so close to them without alerting the deer?

[CareyE]

#25683

Congratulations! I have been doing more ground stand hunting lately too. I would have to say it makes things more simple for me. Today I walked over an hour to my spot carrying all my tree stand equipment and…saw nothing! I too found a new spot yesterday for a ground blind on private property I recently received permission to hunt. After today I can’t wait to try that one out.

[smiley1]

#25876

Thanks guys. Ptaylor, I was sitting on a three legged folding chair and was wearing a facemask with a full length cheap leafy-wear jacket I bought about 15 years ago on clearance. As for the doe… there were 3 doe together just feeding on acorns and browsing. As they kept getting closer I focused on the bigger doe (not paying any attention to the other deer for fear of moving and getting spotted) when she lowered her head and was nudging around for acorns I drew and released in one motion. Just about the time I hit full draw I heard one of the other deer scuffle in the leaves (she probably detected me) but by the time the bigger doe realized something was up….. the Tuffhead did its job. She ran about 30 yards stopped and fell over. It all happened so quick.

The buck was working a scrape line about 50 yards crosswind from where I was sitting. He was preoccupied making scrapes and rubbing saplings so I figured I would give him a couple grunts. At first he paid no attention to me so I grunted more and louder. He still seemed to be more interested in the scrapes. I watched him for about 10 minutes giving him a couple grunts every minute or so. To be honest I thought he was going to walk away. Then he starting walking slowly in my direction and I thought is this really going to happen? There were a couple squirrels behind me rustling for acorns in the leaves and I think he miss took the rustling for other deer. At least it seemed that way to me judging from his reaction. He walked towards me almost looking behind me for the other deer. When he turned broadside at 10 yards I waited for his leg to move forward picked a spot and made a good shot. Also, it was morning and the sun was at my back so that may have helped block the bucks vision.

The one thing I did learn is: if you get the correct wind and stay perfectly still it is very possible to kill a whitetail with a traditional bow at close range.

Steve

[Ptaylor]

#26118

Steve,

That’s cool, thanks for the info on how you pulled off drawing so close to a wary white-tail!

preston

[Stephen Graf]

#26481

Great Pictures, and looks like it was a glorious day too. Very Nice!

[Patrick]

#26997

Great job! Congrats!

[Col Mike]

#27036

Great job and story!! how do you like those first lite trousers?

[smiley1]

#28008

Mike, I really like the trousers. Good quality, quiet and very comfortable. They are great for a wide range of temperatures from 75 down to 20.

Steve

[Col Mike]

#29104

Steve

Yes they are–and add a good wind block fleece layer or merino wool and they are good to -10.

[lwinters6969]

#35113

Smiley1 wrote: I almost always hunt from a treestand and have had good success doing so. Two weeks ago while doing some midday scouting I found a ridge with plenty of fresh deer sign. Not wanting to alert deer to my presence I decided not to hang a stand and instead hunt from the ground when the wind direction was good for the spot I had selected. The following Friday we had a west wind… perfect for my new spot. I wore a cheap imitation gillie suit and to my surprise had three deer within 15 yards at first light. I managed to double lung the bigger doe at 10 yards and watch her go down within 30 yards.

A week later, we had a NNW wind also good for my new found spot. About an hour and a half after light I spotted a buck working scrapes along the ridge. I managed to grunt him into range and shoot him at 9 yards. He made it about 80 yards before expiring. I never would have believed that I could take two deer on the ground at less than 10 yards without some sort of blind and get away with it. Needless to say I am very excited about ground hunting, the mobility it affords and not having to rely on treestands all the time.

Steve

I was shooting a 50# Dryad Orion, 685 grain carbon arrows,

Tuffhead 300s, 2″ aluminum footings for a 34.8% FOC.

Steve

. GREAT IDEA:idea:

[Author]

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